In Giving Up, I relate a moment from a particularly memorable Ash Wednesday. Other memories of this solemn service have been more somber, but none more soberly illustrates our 'selfie culture' or the need we have for this Lenten season that can draw us out of ourselves—if only we will let it. A few years ago, I led the Ash Wednesday service at our church in North Dallas. What a beautifully rich, deeply devotional service it was; the sermon touched on the themes of continuous repentance and humility before God. The music was moving; we sang these words: “Forbid it, Lord, [...]

Lent begins with a necessary reminder: you are dust and to dust you shall return. In Ash Wednesday, we speak these difficult words so that we might resist the influential fictions that our daily lives impress upon us. The fiction that we are in control. That we can fix ourselves. That we were designed first and foremost to love and care for ourselves. Jesus tells us that the Law and the Prophets can be distilled into these two commands: Love God and Love Your Neighbor. Throughout history, the story of humanity has been an insistent turning away from these invitations and toward ourselves. [...]

A while ago, I wrote about the ‘Formation Gap in the Information Age.’ I’m troubled by the incredible formational power our technologies exert on us and how slow local churches have been to account for this in their discipleship. If we are not speaking to the digital habits of the people in the pews, we are missing a HUGE (and growing!) part of their lives. Yes, there is a 'pot and kettle' problem here. But there is ‘pot and kettle’ potential here. While that shouldn’t stop us from teaching on this subject, we should give some attention to [...]

Preaching may be more than art, but it is certainly not less. It is a craft and a skill. An individual may have certain gifts given by God, but those gifts are diminished if not stewarded by effort and practice. Excellence deceives us. When we see a baseball player effortlessly turn a double-play, we are tricked into thinking it came easily to him. He’s a natural. When we see a ballerina float weightlessly across the stage, leaping and turning in perfect time with the music, we are prone to imagine that she was just born to dance. The characters in [...]

Fran and I are in Jerusalem resting after an amazing time touring the Holy Land with a group of pastors, spouses, and laypeople. What a great time we had. From our first day at Caesarea Maritima to the closing liturgy at the Wadi Qelt, we had an incredible experience. What great joy we had in our hearts as we walked in the footsteps of the Lord. What a great teaching and learning experience, too. The standard sense of every one of our pastors was this: their lives and their ministry will never be the same! Nearly everyone on the trip [...]

I am leading a tour group of pastors through the Holy Land. Our group is about a dozen clergy, spouses, some dedicated lay people from their churches, and a father with his teenage son. A few days into the trip, the father and son asked if the young man could be baptized here in Israel. Wow. Easy answer. Yes! Of course. “But where?” Easy answer, too. “We can baptize him at the place of our Lord’s baptism." We made our plans. River Jordan: Still Muddy; Still Cold Qasr el Yahud has been a busy place throughout history. Joshua entered the Promised Land [...]

A while back, I had taken the day off but my ‘smart device’ had not. It was still receiving emails. When it beeped I did what we all do instinctively: I looked at the incoming email. I wish I hadn’t. Here is what was written (paraphrased to protect the identity of my friend): I sat down with my kids and grands today at the dinner table and looked around the feast. I was jarred by a sudden realization. While I love my children and my grandchildren, none of them have a Christian faith! Not one. I have been a Christian [...]

Matt Canlis wasn’t too different from most young ministers at the tail end of seminary. He was full of big ideas for big churches. But unlike most young ministers, he benefited from a mentoring word from Eugene Peterson, who counseled him to put off being swallowed up by the “American Church Machine” and discover a different, older form of pastoral ministry in a parish. This led him to live at Godspeed. “Go somewhere where God might do something, but you won’t get any credit for it,” Peterson said. Wisely, Matt listened, and he and his wife Julie landed in a [...]

by David Roseberry I have been so grateful for the many people who have responded to the vision of Giving Up. Several rectors have texted me and told me that the book made a difference in their thinking and in their planning for the last three months of the year. And, thankfully, in the way their church responded. One bishop told me that we’ve “created a conversation among our leaders that has been very helpful." He says: "Lots of our clergy have told me that they have used some of the principles and approaches you outline in the book for [...]

Our church year begins with Advent, but self-reflection and goal-setting are good for all of us and the turning of the calendar is as good a time as any to start. This year, why not resolve to be more generous? Lots more ideas here! As we argue in Giving Up, generosity is at the heart of the gospel. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a student of the generous life. Giving—in any form—shapes our hearts and testifies to the authenticity of Jesus’ mission. But ‘being more generous’ is a big goal, and it’s in danger [...]

The Olympics are coming up. We will watch figure skaters perform with elegance and grace; we will see freestyle skiers meticulously weave over moguls and fly acrobatically through the air. We will see those who have perfected their craft competing at the highest level. It's poetry in motion, but it's also a practiced, technical craft. (photo credit: Patrick Hui) And after they perform, they will be judged. We will see scores with seven decimal places meant to quantify the minutest elements of each event. Was the chin tucked? Was the rotation complete? Did they hold to their lines? [...]

by David Roseberry A few weeks ago we put our German Shorthair Pointer down. Mollie. She was 17 years old. She died as she had lived: a loyal, loving, trusted, and trustworthy member of our family. Our pets are not only wonderful companions. They become members of our families. They share so much of our lives...and when their lives are nearly at an end, owners have hard and painful decisions to make. This is how we made our decision. Seventeen years ago, right after they were married, my son, Jed, and his new wife ‘rescued’ her as a puppy from [...]

In 2018, we want to feature lots of churches and individuals who are living generously. As David writes in Giving Up, generosity is at the heart of the gospel; only when we become generous will we be formed into Christ's image and project that image into the world. More than discipleship programs and evangelism strategies, we need churches that are radically generous in their communities. I want to share just a brief moment of beauty I experienced last Sunday at my home church, Restoration Anglican Church. Over the past year or two, largely because of the influence of a wonderful missionary [...]

Therefore, that He might be liable, He was a Child; that He might be able, He was the Son; that He might be both, He was both.” — Lancelot Andrewes Hast thou not heard, that my Lord Jesus di’d? Then let me tell thee a strange storie. The God of power, as he did ride In his majestic robes of glorie, Reserv’d to light; and so one day He did descend, undressing all the way — George Herbert “He was created of a mother whom He created. He was carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in [...]

All hung by the chimney with care...but you're still working! The shopping is done; the gifts are wrapped and under the tree. But for the pastor, there's one more task before Christmas Morning—the Christmas Eve Service. No matter your role—preaching, serving at the Table, leading prayer, leading worship, handing out the order of service, or just greeting everyone at the door, this is a big moment in your church's year. Is it too big? I always viewed this moment as an honor. An honor first because I get to attend to the proclamation that my King has come. [...]

Last week, I gave you five poets from my 'mixtape' for pastors who want to 'get into' poetry. Here's the other half. These are some heavy-hitters—some of my favorite poems of all-time make this list. I hope you enjoy exploring these and I hope you find a poet you connect with. I repeat my earlier disclaimer: I do not present these poems so that you can torture the 'deeper meaning' out of them to use in a Sunday sermon. These are works of art that have the capacity to form you, which will in turn inform your ministry. As before, I [...]

When I was writing Giving Up, I discovered an unlikely source of insight in Zag: The Number One Strategy of High Performance Brands by Marty Neumeier. The foundational principle is that successful brands don’t follow the crowd—they don’t look at the leaders in the marketplace and try to latch on and say “Me too!” Instead, when everyone else zigs, they zag. I was blown away by this seemingly obvious idea as I look at the church landscape over the course of my ministry. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when being the church was fairly normative—churches were sustainable [...]

I made you a mixtape. Let me explain. When I get to know someone in church ministry and it comes out at some point that I have a background in poetry, there’s usually just two responses. For some, it’s a polite pivot into safer conversational territory—so how about this weather we’ve been having, huh? But many people say something like: “Poetry. Yeah, I’d like to get into poetry.” This is a strange thing to say. I mean, it’s like saying you want to get into music. Or get into art. These are broad categories covering hundreds, if not thousands of [...]

Last week, I talked about how to encourage generosity at the end of the year by making Growing generosity is a part of your teaching ministry, and teachers need to be creative. We've talked about getting creative by making a Christmas Wish List for your church. It’s a way to engage the people directly with the needs of the church in a way that opens opportunity instead of laying on burdens. Check out Giving Up for more ideas. Meanwhile, I want to focus on two ways to inspire generosity in surprising ways during Advent and Christmas. “The Fattening of the [...]

Advent is a time of waiting. As one who didn’t grow up but had to grow into the church calendar, the movement from increasing anxiety as Christmas approached to cultivating patient anticipation refreshed my hectic heart. December is a hard time for church leaders to slow down. But the always-on, always-connected world we built with blind optimism in progress is now being challenged by those who’ve witnesses—often firsthand—its destructive power. The beginning of December seems like a helpful time to listen to some of those important voices. Godspeed I came across Godspeed at the RSVP conference with the American Anglican [...]

We've talked a lot about increasing generosity at the end of the year. As we’ve posted elsewhere, the end of the year brings challenges. You’ve got this year’s budget gaps, next year’s budget planning, end-of-the-year appeal letters—it’s a lot. On top of that, Christmas is fast approaching. There are two temptations during seasons like this in ministry. Avoidance I’ve seen plenty of pastors who shy away from talking about giving at the end of the year. Maybe they did their big push in November and now, they think, it’s time to just bury the reality of the situation under the [...]

No doubt, you have plenty of resources for your church during Advent. Still, I thought you might benefit from this little quote collection I compiled during sermon preparation and study over the years. I wish you a blessed beginning to this season of expectancy. Enjoy! For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning – not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last. —Frederick Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat A prison cell in [...]

After the events in Charlottesville in August, I came across an article by Doug Paul of Missio Alliance with a catchy and convicting subtitle: "When a Generation of Church Planters Reach Only White People” In reviewing the book The Creative Class, Paul argues (persuasively) that in creating ‘hip’ church plants, many young pastors may be inadvertently signaling a bias toward white upper-middle class individuals and families. With no malicious intent, we may build churches that widen racial gaps and keep Sunday morning the most segregated hour in America. I doubt I have to persuade anyone that nearly every church in America [...]

C.S. Lewis wrote that friendship is born the moment one person says to another, "What! You too? I thought no one but myself..." At the recent Rectors' Summit for Vision and Planning, I got to experience exactly this kind of instant and irreplaceable community as I met fellow pilgrims along the journey in ministry. Among many remarkable conversations that happened over lunch tables and in small groups, I found that there were quite a few of us interested in poetry. Geoff Chapman, rector of St. Stephen's Church in Sewickley, Pennsylvania mentioned his newfound affection for the work of Gerard Manley [...]

It's the time of year when church leaders are starting to see lots of red—and it isn't always early Christmas decorations! Lots of churches have deficits they need to close by year's end. I have been there many (MANY) times. Sometimes, these gaps are relatively small. All you need is to remember to 'double December' and take a breath. (If you don't know what this means, read this.) Other times, the gap is wide enough that you need to make the need known and stir up some end-of-the-year generosity. Here's a quick guide on all the ways you can do [...]

In 2012, in response to so-called consumer holidays 'Black Friday' and 'Cyber Monday', New York's 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation partnered to create Giving Tuesday. This November 28, organizations, influencers, and individuals will reach out across their platforms to encourage people to give generously to worthy causes. As I wrote in Giving Up, when ministry leaders ask others to give, it isn't begging. It's an invitation to follow Jesus' example and teaching. It's an opportunity for individuals to experience a counter-cultural gospel message of 'giving up' in the face of so much 'building up.' Indeed, #GivingTuesday can become [...]

The Church is a tended vine. The metaphor runs through all of scripture, from Isaiah 5 to John 15. It's our model for making disciples. But have we taken a moment to ask what we know about the plants themselves? Consider: Vines offer less to look at than perhaps any other plant. There's just no other way to say it: they are ugly, gangly plants. No other plant is as fruitful as a vine. Properly tended, it will produce bushels and bushels of grapes. Then again, vines are incredibly high maintenance. They will only live and thrive if they are [...]

Though we love talking about 'casting vision', but often our 'vision' is just too big for anyone to grasp. It's too wide to take in and leaves people feeling overwhelmed and even paralyzed by possibilities. Barry Schwartz has some remarkable (and terrifying!) research about "the paradox of choice." When we are confronted by too many options, we become anxious and our eventual choice feels like a resignation, a disappointment. I feel this way every time I dine at a deli or mega-chain restaurant, whose menus read like sprawling novels, encompassing everything from French toast to pot roast. They've cast a [...]

Writing an Appeal Letter is about saying "will you" and then "thank you". A few years ago I had to do what every Rector or Sr. Pastor should do about this time of year: write a year-end appeal letter. (If you need convincing that you should, read here.) My church was in the red for the year. Again. I've written before why this is often the case at the end of the year. There were no controversies to clear up. The careful spending of the staff was about 10% ahead of the congregation's giving. I sat down at a [...]

Last month, I spent some time in Arizona at the Matthew 25 Gathering. We brought together individuals and organizations from across North America who are engaged in ministry to serve ‘the least of these.’ It’s always inspiring to hear from these practitioners who actively work toward establishing justice and shalom in the world. Here is an excerpt from a bible study on Isaiah 58 and Matthew 25 that I taught during for our: Rooted in Him Just north of Tucson, there’s a place called the Biosphere. The Biosphere was an experiment in a self-contained community. It was like a pre-planetary [...]

Church leaders must understand their communities and must be attentive to the ways in which those communities are changing. According to a 2016 Pew Research study, while Muslims made up 1% of total population in 2015 (about 3.3 million people), that figure is expected to double in the coming decades. It is estimated that Muslims will represent the second-largest religious group in the United States in approximately 20 years. And of course, demographics vary significantly state to state, and city to city. We posted recently about PRRI's new American Values Atlas that can allow you to understand the changing context around [...]

In my last semester at Wheaton College, I was confronted by a friend: Wait, you’re about to graduate with an English degree and you haven’t taken a class from Alan Jacobs? Responding to his look of disgust, I signed up to audit Dr. Jacobs' class on 20th-century poet W.H. Auden where his lectures on “Horae Canonicae” and “As I walked out one evening” took up residence in my soul. Since that time, Dr. Jacobs has moved on to Baylor University’s Honors Program and written such books as The Narnian (a Lewis biography) and The Book of Common Prayer: a Biography. [...]

We’ve made two wrong turns so far, and that’s my fault. I keep looking up from the map on my phone at the mountains surrounding us here in northern Washington state. We are looking for a retreat center in Sumas, a town that seems to be mostly small farms patched in among the forested hills. I am here with David Roseberry on behalf of LeaderWorks. We are here to host two webinars for the Anglican Church in North America’s Liturgy Taskforce, a group of faithful people who have been laboring for several years now to create a new and beautiful [...]

On this blog, I try to provide tactical advice on growing generosity in the church. Every church leader knows that giving is especially vital as the year winds to a close. The end may be nigh upon us, but there is no need to feel like you are scrambling to get your message out about stewardship. Here are ten things you can do between now and the end of the year. 1. Schedule a Series You aren’t begging for money and you aren’t hammering anyone over the head. Part of your call to shepherd your flock is to help them [...]

When we think about spiritual disciplines, many of us default to the idea of a ‘quiet time’ or a ‘daily devotion.’ Some of us will automatically think of Richard Foster or Dallas Willard or other luminary on the subject. No matter our starting point, our imagination for the ultimate purpose of spiritual disciplines is often woefully shortsighted. If we aren’t careful, we come to think of disciplines like the latest fad diet or a trendy ‘lifehack.’ Spiritual disciplines become synonymous with the self-help industry, and our engagement with them is all about helping us become the 'best version of ourselves.' [...]

It is that time of year again. Budget time! As pastors, leaders, vestries, and boards are wringing their hands about the close of this year, plans for next year are being drawn up. Over the years I developed a few ‘hacks’ for church leaders. I’ve collected a few of these tips, tricks, and rules of thumb that have proven useful to me and—I pray—would help you thrive in the last few months of the year. Think Dates, Not Dollars If budgets are tight or giving is down, or end of year forecasts are unclear, it is hard to think BIG [...]

Here's another sneak peek at my new book, Giving Up: How Giving to God Renews Hearts, Changes Minds, and Empowers Ministry, available now. This excerpt is from the second chapter, titled "The Hidden Virtue of the Early Church." I want to give the church corrective lenses to see that the ministry of Jesus, Paul, and the very first Christians was inextricably tied to generosity. It's what made disciples and made Christianity famous in the midst of a skeptical, even hostile empire. There is one other instance of Paul directly referring to Jesus’ words. It occurs in Acts 20, during Paul’s tearful farewell [...]

You can see the latest sneak peek at Giving Up: How Giving to God Renews Hearts, Changes Minds, and Empowers Ministry on CT Pastors. This excerpt reveals five big ideas that church leaders can use to jumpstart generosity in your church. Check out the whole book on Amazon.

Stunning Evening in the Old City Next Year in Jerusalem "Next Year in Jerusalem" is a Jewish phrase with a long and deep history. You can read about it here, but the idea is self-evident. It represents hope; the unfulfilled hope of the Jews and their desire to rebuild the Temple and make the Davidic kingdom a modern-day reality. But it has become a statement that I say to many of my friends in Israel when I leave every year. "Next year in Jerusalem." They smile and say it back. And both hope that it is going to be [...]

The scenes from Las Vegas first hit my phone screen as my wife and I were driving in from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris to attend my son’s fashion show. It was a surreal moment for me. Our son is the Design Director of Thom Browne, a luxury brand of men’s and women’s clothing—their clothes sell at prices I cannot even begin to afford. And as I imagined what was about to come down the runway, the stark reality of the carnage of Las Vegas was all too real. The Glory of Goodness And what our eyes beheld was [...]

David Roseberry’s book, Giving Up, provides concrete ways to jumpstart financial giving in churches. His wisdom, gleaned from decades in ministry, gives church leaders applicable tools to do the work they need to do, which requires members of churches to be generous with their resources. So, yes, the book is about money, much as Jesus’ teachings were filled with advice about how we think about and spend our money. But the book is more than money. The idea of Giving Up is that generosity is a central virtue in the life of Jesus and the ministry of the early church. [...]

On October 10 and 11, LeaderWorks will facilitate two webinars from the meeting of the ACNA's Liturgy Taskforce as they work on common texts for liturgical use for our province. We hope to provide an opportunity to hear from the faithful men and women who have put in years of hard work on our prayer book. They will share the principles that have guided them in creating and revising the texts, and they will address some of the common questions that have arisen through the process. Panelists will include the chair of the Taskforce, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan and Senior Reader, Dr. J.I. [...]

The Public Religion Research Institute just released an invaluable new resource to help church leaders see what’s been happening across the American religious landscape. Their American Values Atlas is an up-to-date, representative dataset drawn from over 100,000 interviews conducted in 2016. The breadth of the data allows church leaders to target the responses of specific states and even metro areas according to the questions used in the survey. These responses can be broken down even further into demographics. For example, with a few clicks, I learned that from 2013 to 2016 those who identified as Baptist in the Dallas metro [...]

The GAFCON Dates have been announced for June 2018 (17-22nd) and conference planning is underway. Many will be coming to Jerusalem for the first time; some have been many times. You might be asked if there is anything to do in Jerusalem beside sit in a hotel conference arena. Hmmm? Ya' think?? Let's see some amazing things together. I have been leading tours to Israel for over 20 years and I have two amazing trips that are occurring at the same time. Beginning on the 13th of June and leading up to the start of the main conference on the [...]

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, I've been so encouraged to hear about the work of Missio Dei Anglican Church in the Eastend of downtown Houston. They’ve named their relief efforts Resurrect Houston. Their rector, Mark Ball, sent word of how—in the midst of overwhelming need—they’ve found a place to start. Thanh Tam Villiage is a Vietnamese immigrant community in Houston. The children of this condominium complex go to Park Place Elementary School, where a member of Missio Dei teaches. She discovered that many of these Vietnamese families did not understand the serious hazards of living in flood damaged homes. [...]

Every week or so, we will post about one of the sites on our upcoming Israel tours for pastors and everyone. The stories of these people and places in the Bible have the power to form us, first as humans made in the image of God, but also as servant leaders who have been called to join the work of the Holy Spirit in the world. Read more about how you can be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Holy Land that will Renew your Faith, Refresh your Ministry, and help you to Realize the Story. This week: [...]

I just can't wait for the release...here's an excerpt from the Introduction of my book, Giving Up: How Giving to God Renews Hearts, Changes Minds, and Empowers Ministry. Writing this book made me rethink how I understood church ministry—I hope reading it does the same for you! Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus lived a generous life. He noticed and commended the many generous people who gave sacrificially. He freely used the generous gifts of others who gave to his ministry. He borrowed the freely offered gift of the donkey colt at Passover and, as prophetically imagined, was laid in the borrowed [...]

*...said only 12 people on earth. That's right. For all the technology that we have and all the money that has been spent on space travel...only 12 people have ever walked on the moon. This is the shot I took with my DSLR. For all the beauty of this barren satellite, I will never reach it. I've wanted to for all my life. I love the moon. I was out in the Arizona desert a few weeks ago when the moon rose up out of the desert floor. It was stunning. I had my camera and my tripod [...]

The mission of LeaderWorks is to help church leaders do their work. In that effort, James K.A. Smith and Tim Keller have blessed us richly with their recent conversation in Comment Magazine. Church leaders who have just begun their ministries, whether planting a church or leading a small congregation, often feel frustrated by a lack of growth. No matter how much they may believe that the number of attendees isn’t the barometer of their success in ministry, there’s little that tangibly validates their tireless labor in the same way. Sometimes, they drift into a sense that their ministry has stalled, [...]

Heavenly Father, hear our cry, O God; Please, in your mercy, attend to our prayer today. From the ends of the earth, from across this state, and all around this nation we call to you: Defend those who have lost much from all further fear and despair. Comfort all who mourn with the hope and promise of Your enduring presence. Uphold those who were first to act, to search, to rescue, and to save. Bless all who have given love, goods, hours, and resources to help strangers. Grant wisdom and insight to our leaders and officials to discern our [...]

As we have heard the reports and seen the images coming out of Houston and South Texas, we don't always know how to process what's really happening on the ground. I had the great privilege to speak with my good friend and partner in ministry, the Right Reverend Clark Lowenfield, Bishop of the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast. He also serves as the rector of HopePointe Anglican Church in The Woodlands, Texas. A photo from Bishop Lowenfield's neighborhood. This faithful bishop has lived and served through five hurricanes, and—as he told me—he has never seen anything like the devastation [...]

Every week or so, we will post about one of the sites on our upcoming Israel tours for pastors and everyone. The stories of these people and places in the Bible have the power to form us, first as humans made in the image of God, but also as servant leaders who have been called to join the work of the Holy Spirit in the world. Read more about how you can be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Holy Land that will Renew your Faith, Refresh your Ministry, and help you to Realize the Story. This week: [...]

Note: Earlier this week, we posted some links that can help you and your church begin helping. Here is how you can begin empowering your congregation to serve this enormous need. Those of us on dry ground cannot fathom the devastation and loss caused by Hurricane Harvey. As much as the media has covered it, our minds cannot take it in. To help us truly fathom it, experts set up mind-blowing comparisons. Here are a few: Harvey has dumped trillions of gallons of water onto the city — enough to fill the Great Salt Lake twice over. Harvey dumped enough [...]

Hurricane Harvey is still dumping rain on the Houston metro area, and it will be some time before we know the extent of the destruction. As one, unified church we pray that God would continue to care for those who are in dire circumstances right now. In the coming days, we will understand more about the needs along the Texas coast. In the meantime, church leaders should begin preparing to serve. Find a point person in your community who will make contacts, gather a team of volunteers, and Marshall resources. Leaders should get organized so that the church can meet [...]

It’s Ready After years of gathering ideas, studying Scripture, preaching “The Money Talk”, collecting three decades worth of wisdom...and months of writing and re-writing, the book is finished. We took our final pass at it with our red pens and now it lives with the publisher and then onto the printer...and then I hope...to you! It should be available for pre-order on September 30. This book will help any pastor, church leader, or member rethink the vital issue of generosity and their own faith. It is inspirational—but also practical and timely. It is chock full of workable ideas that can be [...]

You may have seen Jean Twenge’s recent article in The Atlantic: “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” (Try not clicking on that title!) It’s an in-depth, troubling look at the habits and health of young people both before and after the ubiquity of the smartphone. I taught high school seniors for the last eight years. The researched claims in this article confirmed my own admittedly subjective observations. In the last four or five years, I watched as some of the very brightest students became anxious shells of themselves. For a long time, I chalked it up to rising pressures from college [...]

Every week or so, we'll highlight one of the sites we'll visit on our upcoming Israel tours for pastors or for everyone. The stories of these people and places in the Bible have the power to form us, first as humans made in the image of God, but also as servant leaders who have been called to join the work of the Holy Spirit in the world. Read more about how you can be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Holy Land that will Renew your Faith, Refresh your Ministry, and help you to Realize the Story. This [...]

This weekend was a sobering reminder that the work of a church leader doesn’t exist in the isolation of a Sunday morning service or even the context of the local community. In the light of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, pastors should speak clearly and wisely with their parishes. Obviously, rhetoric alone is not enough—Christian communities will declare what they believe by their actions in the wake of this moment—but we have the pastoral responsibility to speak the truth in love and help those we serve to know how best to respond. It’s a challenging moment and a moment [...]

What does it cost to plant and fund a church? Well...like so many other things, it depends. But there is a four-word sentence that will answer the question squarely: MORE THAN YOU THINK. Here are a few factors that will affect the cost of a church plant: 1) Age/stage of the Planter; 2) Family size and needs. 3) Cost of Living in community 4) The size imagined for the church (larger churches take more up front money) and, 4) the availability of space and paid/unpaid staff. But make no mistake, it is more than you think. Helpful Tools Some organizations [...]

Big Changes I am excited to announce a few big changes to LeaderWorks that will help leaders do their work. I have been mostly ‘radio’ silent on the blog for the past weeks for a few reasons: I have been on vacation for 10 days in California. What a place! We’ve had an amazing time of refreshment and renewal. I can’t believe that this happened, but we even braved a day at Disneyland with grandkids. Fun. Hot. Crowded. But absolutely worth it! Secondly, I have been writing up a storm to finish my new (and first) book! I pushed ‘SEND’ on [...]

Note: All my life I have had to ask for money...and in the back of my mind has been a reluctance. A guilt. How could I? I'm taking away from them! But Alex Wilgus clears this up in the first few minutes of this video below. Simple wisdom. One of the great challenges for the church planting is finding funds. Questions like, "What does it actually cost to plant a church?" will trouble the mind and the waking thoughts of every planter. They might go here to read about the variables involved. The Barna Group has a thorough approach here. [...]

I received a note yesterday that tourism from the United States to Israel is growing—and not just by a little bit. Compared to 2015 and 2016, tourism to Israel is up 20% from January to June. So far this year, 400,000 Americans have travelled to Israel—90,000 in the month of June alone. What is it that continues to draw people to discover this place? Maybe you should find out for yourself. Travel with LeaderWorks to the Holy Land in January 2018, either as part of our Pastor Tour or on our Israel for Everyone Tour. Both trips are led by [...]

Thanks to a generous supporter of LeaderWorks, we would like to announce our new Assistant Director, the Rev. Kolby Kerr. Kolby is a fantastic young priest in our ACNA and will add greatly to what LeaderWorks is able to offer. You’ll be hearing a lot from him on the blog, so I wanted to give him a chance to introduce himself. A word from Kolby First, I want to say just how grateful I am to be a part of LeaderWorks. To think that I could help church leaders through an organization like this is something I could not have imagined [...]

It was the whole Trinity, which at the beginning of creation said, "Let us make man". It was the whole Trinity again, which at the beginning of the Gospel seemed to say, "Let us save man". -- J. C. Ryle The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. --The Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 13:14) Because the Christian God is not a lonely God, but rather a communion of three persons, faith leads human beings into the divine communion. One cannot, however, have a self-enclosed communion [...]

Pentecost Since the days of Pentecost, has the whole church ever put aside every other work and waited upon Him for ten days, that the Spirit’s power might be manifested? We give too much attention to method and machinery and resources, and too little to the source of power. – J. Hudson Taylor It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love. ― Billy Graham The dove descending breaks the air With flame of incandescent terror Of which the tongues declare The one discharge from sin and error. The only [...]

The Rev. Ray David Glenn and I are friends. We have known each other since 2010. When his wife died suddenly seven years ago, he and I became even closer. (For reasons I cannot explain, RD is the ONLY person I ever routinely Facetime with. It cannot be that actually wants to see me. But I think he is that relational; he has a very, very high Emotional Quotient.) We have had lots of Facetime over the years about grief, loneliness, family, his wonderful son, his love for his affianced, the challenges of the culture, Anglicanism, and the work he [...]

Civil Religion? Memorial Day is a date on the civil calendar when the nation can (and should) honor the men and women who died in battle on behalf of our nation. The weekend has come to signify things of far less significance: the opening of the public pool, the start of summer, the firing up of the backyard grill, and a day off. But all Americans...and particularly American Christians...should stop and think deeply about this weekend, include comments and prayers about it in our worship services, and pastor our nation as we remember those who died in battle. Really? In honest conversation with younger [...]

I was filled with memories and hope when I saw our President and the Prime Minister of Israel walking together. They both seems happy...or happier that I have seen the Prime Minister and a US President in a long time. God only knows what will come of it...and what will come of the prayer that President Trump prayed at the Western Wall. (He left a little note in the wall, as is the custom.) We are told that the President wanted to go alone to the Wailing Wall, the Western Wall, to have a private moment in prayer. (He has [...]

The images from the President's trip to the Holy Land brought the memories back...in an instant. Pastors & Presidents walk in His steps. The feel of the Western Wall, the courtyard entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the beautiful and unforgettable Middle-East vistas. It is a remarkable place to which every practicing Christian minister should go. Last January, my wife and I took a group of Pastors and Spouses to the Holy Land on a Familiarization Trip. We are going again and you are invited. If you are a leader in the church, a teacher of the Bible, a [...]

Edition ONE Released Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rev. Dr. Jensen, The Rev. Dr. John Yates, III, Dr. Ashley Null, and Bishop Ben Kwashi--these are the modern day Anglican scholars and bishops that are teaming together to write a 6-volume work on Reformation Anglicanism. The first edition is out (The Reformation Anglicanism Essential Library, Volume 1). And it is great! An Interview with an Editor A few weeks ago I sat down with John Yates, III, one of the editors of the series (along with Ashley Null). John is the Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Raleigh, a graduate of Trinity [...]

There is a great story to be told about Christ Church located in Austin and the leadership decision their 'daughter' church made a few years back. Their decision addressed a great question for all of us today: Is a church an amenity to our lifestyle, or much more? If it is all about 'location, location, location,' what decision do you make to move a church away from your own neighborhood? Here is the story that I have gleaned. Retirement Ministry A few years ago, Christ Church, Austin, under the direction of Fr. Cliff Warner, sent out a group of people to start a daughter [...]

“I feel so alone” is what we most often hear from Anglicans serving in ministries of justice and mercy. The work is discouraging. Our resources are never enough. Personal lives feel the toll. Our spiritual lives are stretched as we wonder if God is big enough for the suffering we hold each day. The good news is: YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There are many Anglicans in North America who are serving our vulnerable, marginalized, and under-resourced neighborhoods. Neighborhoods who are grappling with issues of racial justice, homelessness, immigration, refugees, at risk children and youth, substance abuse, the penitentiary system, restorative [...]

Motherhood is one of the most fundamental human roles, given by God and knit into our DNA. Hallmark’s calendar doesn’t dictate our preaching, but this particular holiday seems worth some attention. Some Mother's Day Sermon tips are listed below and can be developed into whole sermons; others are just words of advice. Use this list to re-imagine how you could approach this subject and move past “Thanks, dear. Here’s your card?” A Higher Love: While we rightly honor the unique bond between a mother and child, our culture (and ourselves) often deify a mother’s love as sacred on its own accord. [...]

Are you Scottish? Here is a test you can take. Do you know Scottish? Gaelic? Do you know the recipe for haggis? (Don't ask. It is a traditional Scottish sausage made from a sheep's stomach stuffed with diced sheep's liver, lungs, and heart, oatmeal, onion, suet and seasoning.) They even have a song, an 'ode' to it. Robert Burns has an address to the sausage. CLICK HERE for more information about the Scotland Tour leaving August 8th But then there is the land, the people, the places, the kilts, the history, and the great story of faith that we will explore this [...]

… we started talking about tattoos and why so many of his generation have them. He explained it to me and showed me his. A few weeks ago I was in the Pittsburgh area doing to work with the Matthew 25 initiative. After one of the interviews, I talked with The Rev. Charles Treichler of South Side Anglican Church. He hinted at a topic that I wanted to explore further, so I invited him to stay around and take a few questions in another video. I wanted to explore how he reaches the ‘millennial’ group in his neighborhood. That conversation [...]

Matthew25i.org continues to widen its reach within our denomination. Readers will remember that M25i is a 'fund' whose sole purpose is to 'kick-start' mercy and justice ministries in churches and dioceses in the US and in Canada. The Rev. David Hanke, Rector, Restoration Church in Arlington, VA I have written about its origins here. Indeed, LeaderWorks has been working on developing the funding and the delivery lines. Applications are available here. And the deadline for submission is May 15th. And finally, there is The Gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona in September for Matthew 25 workers. (Go here for more information and [...]

Holy Week is the "Week of Whiplash." The highs in the Story of Palm Sunday are followed all too quickly by the shouts from the crowd calling for His death. Then He slow-walks the next days: from the Garden to the Courtyard to the Praetorium to the Streets to the Calvary Hill to the Cross to the End to the Tomb to the Burial, and then into silence... We know all of that...and yet we know that this Sunday is a celebration of hope and promise; the proclamation and display of the evidence of His victory that has been won. So [...]

The Big Event Talk about pressure, the Resurrection is the biggest event in the history of the world. People will flock to churches this Sunday from all different persuasions and understandings about the Resurrection. The Gospel is very clear about the Resurrection…but the culture today has morphed it into butterflies, spring lilies, and fertility symbols of eggs and bunnies. Therefore, this can make for a challenging Easter sermon! One of the thousands of crosses across the Holy Land I have kept notes over the years from preaching on Easter. Some of the sermons I am proud to have [...]

Reflections about The Cross of Christ Here is a small collection of moving and provocative quotes and comments about the Cross and Holy Week that I have collected over the years. They are sermon starters, devotional nudges, and deep expressions of our faith and love of Jesus Christ and the Cross He endured. May the Lord richly bless you all in the Holy Week. I am praying with and for all those who have the burden and joy of pastoral leadership and preaching. --DHR Notes and Quotes about The Cross We sinned for no reason but an [...]

Last Spring Break I went to the area mall. It was teeming with people. Kids were everywhere. Families were shopping sales. Kiosks were jammed with goods. People carried all kinds of packages. It was a great day for commerce in North Texas. Except if you were the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny was going broke. The Easter Bunny display was set up in the highest traffic area of the mall. A white, knee-high picket fence formed the boundary of a fake yard display of artificial turf. A lattice arbor arched over a resin w00d-like chair. Faux vines and flowers festooned the [...]

Christ Church March marks the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the transition process at Christ Church. I remember it well. I had asked the Vestry 9 months earlier to begin a search process for a new Rector. I was so thankful for their diligence and care throughout the process. Fran and I were very excited to see the process narrow down to a few likely candidates. Then, as Paul Donison was in the final stages of the call process it suddenly and irreversibly got real. A year ago this month, the announcement was made and the transition process began. (I [...]

These Guides are Good! Among all the people that I have met in Israel over the past 20 years, the guides are the most amazing to me. I have seen them in action on many different occasions over a period of 20 or more years. They do NOT disappoint. They will make or break a tourist experience in Israel. I have never had a bad experience with any of the guides I have used. They must do far more than just repeat facts and dates at a site. And they are the language interface between Hebrew, Arabic, and English. They [...]

I am leading clergy tour (Pastor Familiarization Tour) to the Holy Land next January 10-19th, 2018. This will be my 21st trip to Israel and my 4th tour with my ordained colleagues. I can’t wait to share the power and beauty of Israel and to have you experience the visual feast that awaits. I have been able to secure an amazing price for those who are interested. I only have a limited number of spaces to offer. If you have thought about it...pray about it...and then let's get going! (Exodus 14:15) Need to Know The trip is for active pastors [...]

A week ago I added a blog post featuring Shawn McCain and his church plant in Austin. He spoke about the vision he has for RezAustin and what it is like to work in a start-up church plant. As I mentioned in the post, Shawn is a great thinker. He is also, humble and clear in his views. Part 2: I wanted to press him further about the ceremonial aspects of the church plant. When I was there for Ash Wednesday it was crowded with young families and clouded with incense! Those two things to do not often go together. So [...]

Some call it "A Holy Land Tour" or a "Biblical Israel Tour", or an "Experience of the Fifth Gospel". But whatever you will call it, it is on your bucket list. And if you are an ordained leader, it has been on your bucket list for a long, long time. And after a Pastor Tour of Israel, you will never be the same. I know. I have taken dozens of ministers and spouses who serve as pastors, preachers, seminary professors, theological students, missionaries, or ordained leaders in active service of the church. I have seen them 'in country', so to speak. [...]

Raise a Glass Patrick was born in 380 AD in Scotland (probably). As a teenager, he was kidnapped by wild Irish traders and brought to Northern Ireland as a slave. It was this hardship that brought him to consider his own sins and his need for a Savior. He writes in his Confession, “the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that, even so late, I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my insignificance and pitied my youth and ignorance.” Hard times [...]

Last summer I led a group to Ireland on a Faith Passage tour. The Emerald Island is breathtaking. One day we drove to the furthest point west on the Dingle Peninsula. There, the wind-swept blue sea crashes on rocky cliffs. It is harsh and cold; vast and beautiful. We were at the end of the world, or at least the end of Patrick's world of the 4th Century. He had been kidnapped by slave traders (in Britain) and sent to Ireland to work as a slave. God only knows what that life was like. In his Confession, he speaks of the harsh weather and [...]

A week or so ago I had the chance to sit with one of the church planters in our diocese (C4SO) from the Austin area. Shawn is one of a growing number of young leaders that have sensed a strong call to ministry in the Anglican Church in North America. However, he's done more than that; he has answered a call to begin a new congregation. In church language, he is 'planting a church' in South Austin. Church of the Resurrection. RezAustin The members and visitors know it as RezAustin. It is a young church with young families that worship [...]

I met Duane Miller in Nazareth a few years ago through an odd and wonderful set of circumstances. He was finishing his PhD from the University of Edinburgh. He was helping to start and teach in a seminary teaching Arab Christian pastors and living among Muslims in Jesus' hometown. He is a ministry partner with Anglican Frontier Mission, an agency that reaches the Arab world. And is an Anglican. Go here for a very good summary of his academic career. His new book, "Living Among the Breakage" is a serious, well-researched, scholarly look at why Muslims are leaving their faith and [...]

Getting a bit Sheepish? I have been getting a bit sheepish about the Matthew 25 Initiative. Over the last few months, as the background and preparation for the website were in the final stages of development, I began to see what the Lord was doing in me. As I spoke to some of the leaders, I was as humbled and inspired as I was surprised. Programs that were meeting the needs of the poor and needy, the helpless and hopeless, were everywhere! Wow. I never knew of the heart and passion for this kind of work in every [...]

I am happy to announce that the Matthew 25 website is up and operational. It has been a blessing to work with a wide number of people throughout the Anglican Church in North America to make this happen. We are all thankful to Archbishop Beach for the early vision behind this effort. I have worked with a team of people around the Province. In addition, many donors have stepped forward to provide the initial funding for this project, and as funds continue to be available, we will open up new phases of the application. So, we are set to go. [...]

I have the joy of introducing Rev. Michael Jarrett and The Trinity Mission (thetrinitymission.org). The Trinity Mission is an online audio podcast and website featuring a daily reading of the Daily Office, both Morning and Evening Prayer. Michael is its developer, its visionary and its voice. What a blessing this man and his website has been to me and to so many. The Trinity Mission will help you get started in a life of daily prayer. Access it yourself and see what a simple and convenient way of praying this website offers. Come back every day...especially during the Season of [...]

Ashes, Ashes Tears filled Jessie's eyes when she took my hand one evening and said, "I brought Derrick's ashes. Could we have a service tomorrow in one of these beautiful places around the Sea of Galilee?" I knew her well. She was with her son on our trip to the Holy Land that her husband had wanted to go on. He died quite suddenly, and I had led his burial service eight months before. His son was escorting his mother on the trip to honor his dad. I was expecting some tears and sorrow along the way but not expecting [...]

This is the Jezreel Valley, the Valley of Megiddo or Armageddon. On a clear day, you can see both the beginning of the Gospel and the end of the world. Like on most days on a Faith Passage tour, what you see will blow you away, especially when you look east from the top of Mt. Carmel. Mt. Carmel is at the northern end of a chain of small mountains that run up the coastline ending in the modern city of Haifa. Carmel means "God's Vineyard". When you stand on the mountain, the bible story rolls out like a [...]

There is a remarkably common expression that Christians make when they land in Tel Aviv (Joppa). They say, "It feels like I've come home..." The land where our Lord lived and loved and died and rose again is our home! It is open for all Christians to visit and experience. This, without a doubt, is the most amazing trip you will ever take. Explore your faith Our first stop is usually in Caesarea Maritima which has a rich biblical connection. Cornelius, who had the vision of Peter having his vision, was stationed there. (Acts 10) In fact, Paul defended his life and [...]

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles (Mt. 4) HERE WE COME! This week I am traveling with two groups through the Holy Land. First, Fran and I host a clergy and spouse group during week one. Imagine that! Ordained ministers and spouses finally seeing the land they have talked about and taught about their entire ministry. It is extraordinary in every way. What a tremendous experience and it would make a great gift to your own pastor or clergy. Really! A trip like this [...]

I watched a bit of the Inauguration ceremonies yesterday. If our new President wants to Make America Great Again, he started with a whole lot of God and Country patriotism that frankly, was moving to me. I love this country and I love the pomp and ceremony of these grand state occasions. The rich scenes of pageantry and prayer reminded me of black-and-white flickering images from my TV set in the early part of my childhood. Praying for Donald? Not even a question. Then, down the street and a few blockheads blocks away (My autofill feature tried to insert the word blockhead. [...]

For some, Lent still conjures only thoughts of Mardi Gras or cutting chocolate from your diet. But many American evangelicals are discovering (or, in some cases, re-discovering) Lent. Many are entering into this time with some hesitations and questions. It creates a challenge for church leaders who are trying to teach the meaning of Lent in the midst of leading the congregation through its observance of Lent. Thank the Lord for the Rev. Aaron Damiani, who has given us a head start in our thinking about the glory of those Forty Days. His book, The Good of Giving Up is a [...]

Why do bishop's wear purple? I'll get to that very quickly...but let me squeeze in this quick update: Matthew 25 Update: Last week I had the great pleasure of addressing the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America. They were meeting in session at a 0ff-season Hilton in Melbourne, Florida. It took some doing to get there; flights are not cheap unless you fly to Orlando and rent a car. However, I got there in time to give my presentation and update on the work with Matthew 25. It was great to be with them; some of [...]

It's hard not to love Chris and Carol Herman, the lead ministry husband and wife team at St. Lazarus Mission. Unfortunately, I do not know them in person, but my brief encounter with them and their dedication to a forgotten and ignored segment of our American life is humbling. For this reason, I called them a few weeks ago to interview them about their ministry as recipients of Matthew 25, a 'kick-starter' funding program for outreach ministries of the Anglican Church in North America. (Go here to find out more about it.) Five Impressive Things about this Ministry Their church [...]

The Rev. Canon Paul E. Donison was formally installed yesterday at Christ Church (Anglican) as its Second Rector. I am the first. I was given the opportunity to offer a prayer for my successor in a formal way during the service. What a joy! I had stepped aside a few months ago to pursue the vision of LeaderWorks. Paul was elected by the Vestry and began his ministry in the Fall of 2016. It took a few months to coordinate the calendars of all the Anglican luminaries to meet at Christ Church. Yesterday, it happened: The Vestry and Bishop 'installed' the [...]

Over the last few days, Willie has been in my ear; actually on my mind. (Wait, wasn't that Georgia?) Anyway, I can't get a song out of my mind. It was first done by Bing Crosby. But that is not when I first heard it! (WAAAY before my time). Willie crooned it wistfully...and beautifully. Check below this post for a treat: Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow sing it beautifully. Do you know it? "Those Far Away Place" Here are a few of the words of the song: They call me a dreamer Well maybe I am But I know that I’m burning [...]

I wrote "The Day Beyond Christmas" years ago as a children's poem about a Shepherd Boy. I found it a few days ago, made a few edits, and publish it here. (See below for Downloadable File) Day Beyond Christmas Downloadable

I am so thankful that I am able, through LeaderWorks, to take over 3 decades worth of parish leadership experience, a few bits hard-won wisdom, and few more wounds, and share them with other churches and leaders. These first months have been a joy. LeaderWorks is up and running and I am thankful to have your support and prayers. Now I am asking for you to pray about making a year-end financial gift for this important ministry. Our Giving Page is Here Here are just a few things that have happened over the last few months. I am ready to launch a [...]

This morning, in the stillness of a very quiet home, I've thought a bit about the mystery of what we believe in Christmas. How can one think about a mystery? The very fact of it as 'mystery' means that it escapes eludes our search for rational clarity. How can we fathom this: That God came down in Christ, born as a baby, naked and uncovered in his mother's arms? Even more profound, we see this very picture again at His Crucifixion. How can God allow Himself to be stripped, beaten, killed on a tree, and then lowered, again, naked and [...]

The interior of King's College, Cambridge in England. Nothing is as thoroughly Anglican as the "Advent Service of Nine Lessons and Carols". Our churches today may not look like King's College in Cambridge, but that doesn't keep many churches from offering their own version of Lessons and Carols. It is a beautiful service, to be sure. A question rises with respect to the wonderful tradition of Lessons and Carols: Is there room for a brief homily or meditation during this service? Is there an opportunity to present the gospel from the lectern (through the nine lessons) AND through [...]

Join us! All my adult ministry I have tried to lead people to a deeper knowledge of God in Christ. That has been my calling from the first day of my ministry until now. I have preached thousands of sermons. I have written a thousand church newsletter articles. I have had numerous appointments over coffee, tea, or other beverages. Every time I have tried to remember that the wider, bigger purpose of my ministry is to lead people to a deeper knowledge of God in Christ. But then I started to travel with them. I took people first [...]

When I was in seminary I was given an opportunity to serve a summer in a National Park Ministry called (as I remember): Ministry to People in Leisure. What a piece of cake, I thought! Summer in Aspen. Yellowstone. Pastoral ministry in the Rocky Mountains. Church and camping all in one! What could be hard about that assignment? Ministry to singles, married couples and children in a perpetual state of play! I went to the orientation meeting one evening and was quickly sobered. When families are squeezed together in the tight confines of a tent or a camper, often times [...]

Stewardship Joke Alert: Just a few days before Christmas, two women stood looking into a department store window at a display of the manger scene. It had clay figures of the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men and the animals. Disgustedly, one woman said, “Look at that — the church trying to horn in on Christmas! Indeed, we should remember. This is our party! Many people have written to ask that I provide a brief outline of how a church/congregation might end their year with joy, gladness, and still be finanically strong and viable for the next [...]

Thank you to everyone who filled out the survey for FaithPassage. The results are in...and they all point toward the same conclusion: Faith-based Travel is in! (It is a national trend, by the way. Read this.) The survey says: We love doing it. We have been to amazing places, seen incredible things, and are eager to go again. Look at the results; I am sure you will agree. What is most striking to me is the importance of the faith-experience for all the respondents. People love to go; who wouldn't? But it is not just about the trip or the [...]

Right now, many church leaders focus on celebrating the Season of Advent and Christmas, as they should. They also are encouraging participation in the last parts of any stewardship campaign. Leaders are needed to help meet the year-end financial goals and good leaders are taking care of that part too. And the wise leader will look for some time with family and personal rest over the holiday. But there is one more thing. At least one more thing. (There is always one more thing.) The Critical Importance of the Vestry The chief governance vehicle for many churches consists of a [...]

Here is the problem I hear again and again as I work with pastors and church leadership on the subject of stewardship. Church leaders call it the ‘fail-safe’ option. It lurks out there as a simple solution to a growing unrest with this year's budget. They say, "If we don't' make our budget this year, we can always cut our budget next year." That is the 'fail-safe' option. Ugh. A Fail-Safe Flop Is that a good choice? Is that the only choice? The idea of having a fail-safe option is to have a safe outcome if things start to fail. If you [...]

This is eloquence. This is beautiful. This text of President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation calling us our nation to an expression of thankfulness is high-minded and hopeful. This words can still inspire us. They can still touch the heart. This is the proclamation in its entirety from 1863, 153 years ago. Leadership always seeks to lift up and unite. May it be so in these days. -DHR By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these [...]

When political tensions, positions, and talking points are served up alongside the Turkey at your holiday table, chances are, temperatures are going up too. Members of the same family, who claim to love one another, do not necessarily see eye to eye over Red and Blue issues in the country. As tensions mount and turkeys are present on both sides, it is good to remember a few things. Dr. Tony Baron, a guest writer has offered four ways to keep the temperature down and thankfulness high (instead of the other way around). Thank you, Tony, for another insightful post (found at [...]

Our culture has its own calendar for the next month or so. We can mark off these days: Door-busters, Black Friday, Parties, Winter breaks, Holiday cheer, Family dinners (and political arguments) and ending with a Ball-dropping champagne toast. That is the liturgy of the world at the end of a year. But what about the Liturgical Calendar? Christmas: The Prequel There is another timeline from another culture that some observe. The Liturgical Calendar starts this Sunday with Advent 1; the first day of the new Church Year. The calendar makes this bold claim: the real New Year begins this Sunday, with a [...]

As a 'lame duck' rector of the church I'd pastored for decades, I had an unusual experience writing my last year-end appeal letter. I had announced my resignation six months earlier. The entire congregation was waiting for some good news from the Search Committee. And we had a significant financial need. HUGE! We needed to raise about 15% of our budget in the closing few weeks of the year. That is a lot of money. I was hoping and praying, of course. But I knew I needed to do more. I prepared an appeal letter and was ready to send it [...]

It is starting to happen on most afternoons now. I innocently walk to my mailbox hoping for a few letters or a favorite magazine. I open the mailbox door, and it all starts to overflow into my arms and onto the street. Catalogs. More catalogs. Credit card offers. Direct mail solicitations. And of course, daily appeals for money and support from a whole host of non-profit ministries, companies, agencies, and institutions. Should the church join this stampede and write a year-end financial appeal letter? The Avalanche: In the closing 45 days of the year, there will be an "onslaught of [...]

A few thoughts about the election and the solemn duty we have as citizens of our country. Vote: Voting (as we know it) is not mandated or commanded in the Bible. However, we are called to 'render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God, the things that are God's.' (Mark 12:17) This is a remarkable admonition from our Lord given the culture and government of the Roman Empire. The Roman government was anything but friendly toward its citizens. Soon enough, it would become deadly for the followers of Christ. But the time of Jesus, the Empire was [...]

Ross Douthat depressed me thoroughly with his sobering comments in the New York Times. (Behind a paywall, sadly, but is he really blasting Trump and urging HRC?) In other arenas, solid Christian leaders are falling all over either side of the choice. Some pro-Trump...some, NEVER! Many of these leaders and writers are people read and admire for their faith, conviction, and ability. And like many others, I have read and read and read. But so far, I have not gone to the polls. But the article (below) was of great help to me. Dr. Ramesh Richard is president and founder of RReach. [...]

In the United States, we are enduring one of the longest (it seems) and mean-spirited (it is sure) election seasons imaginable. Politics is on everyone's mind. I listened to a news story about a Dallas firm that had asked its employees to NOT discuss politics anymore around the 'water cooler'. They were not trying to infringe on freedom of speech; their motivation was to protect the morale of their firm. It was getting ugly! Here is a story featured in the New York Times: The Uninvited Guest--The 2016 Crashes the Dinner Party. You can guess what it is about. What [...]

This past Sunday, my son led Restoration Church in the celebration of their 7th anniversary of their founding. I had some deep thoughts when I heard my son preach a Gospel of Grace...knowing that it was probably mostly God who taught him these things. Here is what happened: It was a very moving day for everyone. Restoration Anglican Church is a church plant from Christ Church in Plano. Over the years, they have met in a bar, a hotel, a warehouse, and now they meet in an event space in the neighboring town of Richardson, Texas. It was also just [...]

If you don't have the perfect Christmas gift picked out yet...what about Scotland? Fran and I are pleased to announce our 2017 Summer Tour: Come to Scotland! (Early Bird pricing extends until December 24th, 2017; that's $100 off!) On this FaithPassage tour, you will see and experience the amazing beauty of Scotland. We see the sights and scenes of the land; the highlands, the churches, the castles, the coasts, even the kilts! (Men, you can even try one one and buy your own!) We come to know the culture and the people through an incredible guide and itinerary. We steep [...]

Thanks to my friend and colleague, The Rev. Dr. Tony Baron, for this insightful and sobering article. BREAKING BAD: HOW GAINING POWER CAN MAKE YOU LOSE YOUR SOUL by Tony Baron, Psy.D., D.Min., Director Breaking Bad, is a universally acclaimed award-winning drama built on chemistry, cancer, and crime. It’s also the story of the erosion of a man’s soul as he gains power. As the protagonist, Walter White (played masterfully by four-time Emmy Award winner Bryan Cranston) is a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who is struggling financially. In the first episode of Season 1, White is stunned to learn [...]

I decided to gather these 'greatest hits' in a single Stewardship digest. These posts distill some of the most practical applications of the issues raised in Giving Up. Here they are...up-to-date. Stewardship, Giving, & the Third Rail Even though money and giving empowers and enables so much good to happen, many church leaders don’t feel comfortable talking about it. For some, the topics of stewardship and giving are the third rail of church work. It makes them nervous. They might be shocked! (Find out what to do about it.) Habits for a Generous Church Money feeds momentum. It is a sign of [...]

For those in the path of this brute force of nature. We are praying for you. I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. (Jeremiah 5:22 ESV)

Foley Beach, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America has called us to prayer over the racial tensions in our communities. He includes these wise observations: “the events in Tulsa and Charlotte continue to foster and deepen fear, mistrust, anxiety, and a simmering frustration in our cities here in the States. African-Americans are becoming more and more fearful of the police in their communities and the violence of the protestors, and the police are becoming more and more fearful of getting arrested for doing their jobs.” His letter to the church begins: Dear Friends in Christ, I am writing [...]

Note: Georgette Forney of Anglicans for Life contacted me a few months ago and ask me to write a series of short essays on any of the readings from the Lectionary for the month of September. I was asked to provide thoughts, insights, and understanding of the text and any application as it had to do with life, protecting and defending the right of the unborn or the weak to live. I was happy to do so. Over the next few weeks, you will see a blog posted on Tuesday for the Sunday to come. For September 25th, 2016 Fight [...]

Note: Georgette Forney of Anglicans for Life contacted me a few months ago and ask me to write a series of short essays on any of the readings from the Lectionary for the month of September. I was asked to provide thoughts, insights, and understanding of the text and any application as it had to do with life, protecting and defending the right of the unborn or the weak to live. I was happy to do so. Over the next few weeks, you will see a blog posted on Tuesday for the Sunday to come. For September 18th, 2016 He [...]

Note: Georgette Forney of Anglicans for Life contacted me a few months ago and ask me to write a series of short essays on any of the readings from the Lectionary for the month of September. I was asked to provide thoughts, insights, and understanding of the text and any application as it had to do with life, protecting and defending the right of the unborn or the weak to live. I was happy to do so. Over the next few weeks, you will see a blog posted on Tuesday for the Sunday to come. (The first in the [...]

In August I attended the Executive Council of the Anglican Church in North America. The host church was St. Stephen's Sewickley, PA. On Tuesday morning, we gathered for Morning Prayer where Geoff Chapman, the Rector, was to preach. I hate to say it, but I have come to NOT expect much homiletical inspiration at 'church business' meetings, especially when there are only about a dozen people in the church. But great preaching and good sermons about Gospel living are always welcome. And we were not disappointed. Geoff preached a short, clear, powerful and perfectly applicable sermon on Galatians 5. It [...]

Jesus says that he stands at the door and knocks. (Rev 3:20) And in Israel, when you walk in His footsteps and read His words where they were first spoken, it seems like He is right there. Knocking again...to come in a renew your faith, encourage your heart, show you His Word, and teach you some things both old and new. Why not experience this for yourself? Bring your spouse, learn how to lead a trip to Israel for yourself and the people in your congregation or ministry. And then go again...and again...and again. Over the past two decades, I [...]

Note: Georgette Forney of Anglicans for Life contacted me a few months ago and ask me to write a series of short essays on any of the readings from the Lectionary for the month of September. I was asked to provide thoughts, insights, and understanding of the text and any application as it had to do with life, protecting and defending the right of the unborn or the weak to live. I was happy to do so. Over the next few weeks, you will see a blog posted on Tuesday for the Sunday to come. For September 4th, 2016 [...]

I had a chance to connect with The Rev. Tish Harrison Warren about her new book releasing in December: Liturgy of the Ordinary. (Pre-order it here.) It looks great and pre-orders are making it the #1 selling book in Anglican Spirituality at Amazon. InterVarsityPress is publishing the book with a Foreword by Andy Crouch. But what also intrigued me is that she is a presenter at The Anglican Family Symposium in Truro, Virginia in September. (Go here for the links to this important gathering) I am excited to support this important gathering. The blurb from Amazon shows the book to [...]

(On Sunday, August 14th, I preached my final sermon at Christ Church as its Rector. It was a tearful, joy-filled, service of thanksgiving and praise to God. This is my note of thanks to this wonderful parish.) Dear Friends, Even in Plano, Texas, you can have a mountaintop experience. Fran and I had one on Sunday morning. If you were there you know what I mean! Our worship service was so incredibly moving. Full and filled with praise and joy. Great numbers of people...and who wasn't moved? I wasn’t the only one fighting the tears back. I looked over the [...]

People say that it should feel like sending your kid to college. This moment...this season. Saying goodbye after so many years of ministry together. “You’re saying goodbye to your baby!”, they say to me. I think the image is meant to comfort and encourage. But, God willing, you never really say goodbye to your children. Instead, you thank the Lord for the privilege of being a part of their lives and sharing moments and meals and memories together. I think that is the way I feel this weekend. We are not saying ‘goodbye.’ Fran and I are thanking God for the [...]

The topic of stewardship and giving is not an easy one to speak about. It makes some people feel very uncomfortable. Both speaker and listener share long moments of angst when the topic is raised publicly. But humor is a great equalizer. I've written elsewhere about how to use humor in addressing this topic, but here I'd like to focus on why humor is so effective. It eases the tensions and diffuses the inherent discomfort in a subject. No pastor or preacher should allow the pulpit to become an entertainment venue for jokes and quips. But, a little humor may make an important point [...]

Normally, you wouldn’t find a blog post on humor mentioned in a series on Stewardship, Giving, and Generosity. But humor is one of the most effective ways to work through a very sensitive topic for many in the church. Humor opens the heart. Some may think differently about the use of funny stories in the context of a sermon. Its use in the pulpit has been discussed and debated (and disagreed about) for centuries. Does humor put the spotlight inappropriately on the preacher? Does it draw attention away from the seriousness of the purpose of the sermon? Is it manipulative? [...]

In the first part of this series, I offered five foundational values that should define a biblical approach for a local church. Here are five more ideas to think about...digest...and develop for your congregation. Starting with... Be Guilt/Shame Free Never write a negative letter to your church asking for money. Never complain about how people give, how massive a church debt may be, or when things need to change before you close the doors forever. Shame and guilt and fear are terrible motivators for generosity. They may produce a financial response once as a 'guilt offering'...but never again. Why? Because [...]

As I've written elsewhere, a church without adequate resources will soon see their visions become vapors. Money feeds momentum. It is a sign of commitment, involvement, trust, hope, and even worship unto the Lord! It is good to talk about! That is why developing a culture of generosity in every church is vital. It takes time and consistent teaching, honest accounting and communication, and Christian modeling. But church acutely aware of the biblical principles of stewardship is a wonder to behold. What can a leader do to develop this kind of culture? Here are ten ideas that might be helpful Tell the [...]

The third rail is the high voltage power line that runs along a subway train. That's the one you are warned NOT to touch. It powers the train. It makes everything go. But if you touch it, you'll be dead before you even sense the shock. For some congregations, the subject of stewardship and giving are the third rail of church work. Even though money and giving empowers and enables so much good to happen, many church leaders don't feel comfortable talking about it. They think that if they touch the subject in their sermon, they'll get shocked! Reason to [...]

Three decades ago, church planting was hailed as the single most effective form of evangelism. The expert in this field was Dr. C. Peter Wagner of Fuller. His statement is legendary: “Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.” There are LOTS of other evangelistic methods for reaching non-believing people: outreach programs, visitation campaign, public crusades, radio/TV, and local training programs. But it was said, church planting trumped them all. Again, under heaven, nothing was as fruitful as a garden variety "ecclesia plantabunt", a church plant. Why? Because for many people, a simple church plant is a naturally “pure” church. [...]

This letter was sent to all clergy in the Diocese of C4SO on Friday afternoon. I thought it was so good that I wanted the readers of my blog to see it. Some of these thoughts are mine, but that is not what make is good. Canon to the Ordinary Kimberley Pfeiler took these remarks and those of Bishop Todd after the Orlando shooting, added her own pastoral comments, and developed this letter from all of us on the Staff Leadership Team in C4SO. As an introduction, I quote the Apostle Paul: For in this tent we groan, longing to put on [...]

Fran and I were at a concert at Fair Park last night enjoying the wry humor of Jim Gaffigan. Toward the end of his performance, a couple in front of us got up abruptly and started to leave. Their movements were sudden and quick; it seemed out of place. I asked the woman, "What's going on?" She answered with a full sentence I can't remember now. All I heard were these words: Shooting. Dallas. Officers. Twitter. Terrible. A tweet on social media and alerted them. They were gone...not knowing the full extent of the crimes that had been committed or [...]

I was in Scotland when the result of the Brexit vote was announced. In a way, life went on and the people continued to do their jobs, their duties, and live their life. It was the typical UK way: Keep Calm and Carry On. The history behind this wonderfully British morale-boosting meme from WWII and its rediscovery is a interesting. Read it here. But when we spoke to people about the vote, they felt uneasy. They saw clearly how the future was unclear. Some of the older folk we met on the street were worried about their pensions, about the future of [...]

The tune "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was written by composer John Philip Sousa in the late 19th Century. One hundred years later, by an act of Congress, it was designated the National March of the United States of America. Vladimir Horowitz arranged it for piano in the mid-1940's and it was an immediate hit. Here is how one reporter described the piece: The fusillades of octaves, the thunderous bass, and, especially, the prestidigitation — the famous piccolo solo skirling away, the accompaniment bounding below, while the tune, in the middle rung out by way of his alternating thumbs... Wow! Wanna see it? Danny McGee, [...]

This weekend hundreds of millions of Americans will celebrate the 240th anniversary of our nation's birth. We should give thanks to God for our country by attending church on Sunday and praying for our nation, our leaders, and the significant challenges we face. Here are some inspiring quotes to help you think about our liberties, our freedoms, and our faith. Happy Fourth of July! ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.—Thomas Paine Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience...without [...]

I had felt the "Time" coming up on me rather slowly at first... It was an occasional tap on the window. "It's about Time", it would say. I could barely hear it at first. Then a slightly louder tapping…especially during prayer: ”It’s Time!" I didn't like it. "Go away!", I'd mutter to myself and stay busy. I spoke to my wife about it...then to few friends privately at first. I didn't want to pray anymore about it. I knew enough to know it was from God. But gradually...in conversations...and in quiet, surrendering moments...I let the idea of "Time" come in and [...]

I texted a woman in our church about her dad’s surgery a few weeks ago. He had undergone a serious heart by-pass procedure. “How did it go?” said my iMessage. A few minutes later I could see that she had ‘read’ my ministry text. But I didn’t get any response in return...for about an hour. Then I got her text back: “Fine. Thanks.” I shot back quickly this wonderful pastoral phrase, “Great. Glad to hear it.” (Yes...I then inserted an emoji!) I saw that she read it…and was preparing a response. I waited to receive her text. It never came. It was almost as if [...]

The Chapel at Clonmacnoise Ireland is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places on earth. From its wind-swept countryside and charming villages to its breathtaking coastal cliffs, Ireland is one of the most amazing and enchanting trips I have ever experienced. My mind, my eyes, my imagination, and our cameras have been on overdrive! But there is much more to Ireland than its stunning beauty. There is also an incredible lesson of history to learn. God begins something big with sometimes someone small. There are many inspiring stories of faith and God’s faithfulness here (St. Columba, St. Brigid, St. Hilda, and more; admittedly [...]

[dropcap color="#333399"]I[/dropcap] was in third grade (I think) when I first learned about the Archimedes principle. I was enthralled. You remember the Greek philosopher and mathematician. He's the one who said, “Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the world!” What a powerful statement. What a compelling vision! Archimedes never went to a church of course, but we use his maxim every day.! And watch what happens when Archimedes and his principle go to church! In most every congregation, the leveraging force for the Gospel and for good is truly amazing. It moves the world! The local church, its people and [...]

Driving to church yesterday, I caught the news feed on my smartphone out of the corner of my eye. I clicked the radio on. Shooting. Night Club. Massacre. Orlando. The death tolls was, at that time, about 20. I thought, "...this is like San Bernardino again...this is our own Paris or Brussels...what a tragedy." Fifteen minutes later, the service at Christ Church was ready to begin. What do I say? What meager words could I offer to a group of early morning worshippers who would be in shock and sadness? What dare I say? There were still so many unanswered questions... I tried [...]

Change is hard. Sometimes very hard. I'm going through one right now...from one ministry assignment (that I love) to another (that is new). Change is happening! As I have listened to my heart and thought and prayed deeply about this, I discovered that there are three parts to change. And they keep inter-changing too. Like a Merry-Go-Round! Here is what I tell people about the change I'm going through: It's going great! God is good...all the time. I'm doing well. Fine! Here is what I should say if I were totally transparent: It's great...for the most part. Most of the time, really... Well, it depends on [...]

It started off as a random drive with a good friend along a Southern California freeway...and ended with in a mind-blowing story from a real biker dude. A few years ago, a friend and I were attending a Pastor's Prayer Retreat in Pasadena. The first five days of the retreat were pretty intense. But it was Saturday and we were off; no lectures and lessons until Monday. We had one car, a full tank of gas, and the whole weekend to explore the hills, beaches, and freeways of Southern California. We hit the road in our rental. The beauty of Southern California has sparked the dreams of millions over the years. [...]

Earlier today I posted a blog article about the intense news story concerning Plano High School. There is a good deal of misinformation swirling around about this. Now there is new information about the school's policy and the practice that deserves to be published: WFAA has clarified their story. The white satin stole is okay to wear...but the seal from the NHS is not; all regalia and badges of that type are not to be worn. However, all students who have a 3.6 or higher are given public honors and a white stole to wear. The student- approved policy is up for review next year. And [...]

Or...something like that. Resign? Okay, maybe NOT that drastic. But something like it. Here is what I mean. Last summer I strongly felt the Lord leading me to step aside from my role at Christ Church as its founding Rector of 31 years. It has been a great relationship. Fran and I have been (and are currently) delighted to service here. Who wouldn't? The people in the parish are wonderful. I have some ministry to do in the wider church (read about it on this website, LeaderWorks.) But I didn't resign and leave. I announced my intention to resign and [...]

My step-father turns 91 in a week. He is a veteran of the Second World War. Most every time we are together I ask questions about his military service. I try to pull out more information about his time in Europe in 1944. Sometimes he will say something about it. Often times he redirects the conversation; he changes the subject. My attempts to hear his great war stories are in vain. In my experience, he is, like many from The Greatest Generation, strangely quiet about his service to our country. I don't know why. Is it the 70+ years of [...]

Bishop Donis Patterson with Cope and Mitre Ten years ago Fran and I flew to Orlando to say some words to my former bishop, Donis Patterson. We had not been close friends, but when I had heard that his health was failing I felt we had to go to see him. To thank him. In 1985 he appointed me as 'Missioner' of the diocese and sent me to Plano to start a church. I was 29. He took a chance on me; he believed in me enough to risk it. Over the years, at important milestones along the way—the opening of a [...]

The wonderful story of a surprise baptism (below) that I first wrote in early February of this year needs an update. Read and rejoice! First, the story itself went 'viral'...in our little blog world nearly 30,000 people read the story. It was the top read story of all time at Anglican Pastor, where it first appeared. Second, I heard from one of the nuns across the River! Yes...through the miracle of Facebook and the Internet, one of the sisters read the story and commented on what a blessing it was to see the whole event unfold from their Jordanian side. She even send [...]

There is lots of confusion in our culture today about bathrooms, gender, and sexual identity and what makes up our humanness. Are we just a collection of biological features that can be changed, chemically adapted or surgically altered? How much choice does one really have? What is gender? Is it a movable category? What role does it play in our lives? This morning we woke to the bracing news that the Obama Administration is pressing this confusion forward. They are liquidating the lines between genders. Boys can now fully mix with girls and vice versa in bathrooms, locker rooms, and other places. Children in public schools, who are [...]

Should the preacher preach a Mother's Day sermon on Mother's Day? Lectionaries purists and biblical exegetes might scoff at the idea. But this Sunday could me a great moment to speak to a wide audience about a critical role in all of our lives. Parenthood. Mothers. Our moms. Being a mom. So, In a word, yes. Here are some thoughts: The bible stresses the vital role of women in the transmission of the faith. Not only is motherhood vital in the Old Testament, Paul calls out the mother of Timothy and his grandmother. He honors them for being the ones who gave [...]

Perhaps you have wondered if you actually should preach a Mother’s Day sermon. I dealt with that subject last year here. I even posted my Mother’s Day sermon from last year. But, if you decide to do it (and you’d better hurry) here are a few ideas you might find helpful on that Hallmark Holiday. Center it in the Gospel. Never give up your opportunity to preach the Gospel. Ever. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. How did he come here? Through the womb of a willing woman. Go for it. (Again, last year's post dealt with some of this.) Make it biblical. [...]

Of course, only God can bless a business. But, from time to time I get to do things that are just fun. Today is a day for that. I am traveling across town to bless a man’s business. I will arrive mid-morning and tour their small factory. Then he will gather all the employees together for a few minutes and turn it over to me. I have put together a few thoughts (below). I want to do more than just ‘wing it’ with a prayer and a bible verse. And since I am an Anglican, I have a short liturgy. [...]

(Recently, I published a blog post on the Role of the Vestry or Church Board here. This is its companion piece on the role of the Rector or Sr. Pastor.) Over the years, I have been through many different periods of growth and development as the Rector and Sr. Pastor of Christ Church. I have made mistakes along the way; I've had some blessed moments too. Many of both. And fortunately, for all but a few years, I have had a great relationship with our Vestry. We have developed a good working relationship; one of advice, counsel, wisdom, and consent. Along with my blog a few days ago [...]

Tonight I have another Vestry meeting; maybe my 350th monthly meeting of the elected leadership of Christ Church. The Vestry in an Anglican church meets routinely, usually monthly, to give leadership and oversight to the mission and ministry of the congregation. Over the years, Christ Church has been through many different phases of Vestry development, involvement, and leadership…not all of them have been easy or effective. There are Canons to be followed, to be sure. And certainly, we (the Vestry and I) have grown and changed over the years. I have made too many mistakes in my leadership. But the Christ Church [...]

Drew and Jonathan Scott are kind of a big deal on HGTV. They are The Property Brothers. One is a licensed real estate agent who helps would-be home buyers find their dream home in the used housing market. The new, used, dream home is usually a fixer-upper, however. So the other brother is a licensed contractor who comes along side the new homeowners and helps them renovate their new, old home into a new, perfect, gem. The show is addictive. One more important fun-fact: these guys are 37-year old identical twins! One wears a tie (Realtor) and the other wears [...]

Light teaches. That is the way to think about any stained glass window in a church. The colorful pictures, figures, or scenes and images made in glass always teach us something about the faith through light. They should be much more than decoration on a building...they should be inspiration about the Gospel. In 2004 a generous donor offered to give a stained glass window for the new chapel. What a great opportunity to cap off this magnificent space. I accepted the offer. I then turned to my favorite artist and got to work. Fran wanted to convey the deep connection that believers have with Jesus Christ. Remember His words: “I [...]

When we started Christ Church, my wife was pregnant with our third child. There were a number of women who hovered around Fran to ensure that her needs were met. As she began to grow larger and larger in expectation of her due date, some of the women got together and offered to have a baby shower. What a great gesture of love. We were a young family. My salary was very low in the early days of the church. We were barely making ends meet. I was looking at our third child (the one to come) and counting [...]

Anonymous (not his real name) will remain unknown to everyone who reads this account…but I can promise he is real and this story is true. A few years ago Anonymous was moved by a random email from a bishop within the ACNA. This man was at a particularly prayerful and important time in his life. He was near retirement; he had sold a business. And he was waiting for guidance from the Lord on how to best honor Him for His provision. The random email from the bishop sparked his imagination. (The bishop would become our Archbishop, Foley Beach.) Subsequently through prayer, [...]

Why did Christianity arise, and why did it take the shape it did? The early Christians themselves reply: We exist because of Jesus' resurrection. … There is no evidence for a form of early Christianity in which the resurrection was not a central belief. Nor was this belief, as it were, bolted on to Christianity at the edge. It was the central driving force, informing the whole movement. --N. T. Wright I don't preach Jesus' story in light of my experience as some sort of helpful symbol or myth that is helpfully illumined by my story. Rather, I am invited by [...]

A few years ago I was bumped into the First Class cabin of a major airline. I was surprised at how nice it really was to be that close to the front of the plane. I was most surprised that as the pilot made his approach to DFW, the co-pilot (I guess) started calling out the altitude levels. Little by little...as the plane descended...the voice in the cockpit was speaking clearly: 1000...900...800...700 and on and on until we reached 100 feet above the runway. Then he called out the altitude by 10's. 100...90...80...70.... I thought then...this is way too much information. [...]

Talk about pressure. The Resurrection is the biggest event in the history of the world. People will flock to churches this Sunday from all different persuasions and understandings about the Resurrection. The Gospel is very clear about the Resurrection...but in the culture today has morphed into butterflies, spring lilies, and fertility symbols of eggs and bunnies. This makes for a challenging sermon! I have looked back over 30 years of preaching Easter sermons and have pulled my best thoughts and approaches. Some I am proud of and might even argue are great ideas. Others are meh... You have decide what's what. But I [...]

If we do not (preach the Cross of Christ) our churches will lighthouses without light, wells without water, dumb witnesses, sleeping watchmen, silent trumpets, messengers without tidings, a comfort for infidels, jubilant joys to the devil, and an offense to God. --Robert E. Lee Golgotha, the place of the skull, where nails smashed through the wrists and feet of Jesus, the teacher from Nazareth in Galilee, can stand for the skulls of every genocide. Betrayal by friends, self-preserving denial, making sport with prisoners, the mockery of crowds, spectators drawn to the spectacle, the soldiers doing their duty and dicing for his [...]

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you; righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. --Zechariah 9:9 But Palm Sunday tells us that it is the cross that is the true tree of life. --Pope Benedict XVI But everyone who lined the streets had a different reason for waving those palms. Some were political activists; they’d heard Jesus had supernatural power, and they wanted him to use it to free Israel from Roman rule. Others had loved ones who were sick [...]

Yesterday a young minister called me to ask my advice and counsel. He is looking to bring on another minister for a key staff position. They were interviewing throughout the weekend. They had gone over position description and key objectives for the ministry. They had talked through the mission and vision of the church. They discussed theology and ministry at length. They shared their views and practice of personal prayer life and key thoughts about marriage and family. They have driven around mission area. They had the hard 'money talk'. They even prayed about this new assignment together. Everything seemed to be right. I said, "You don't sound [...]

This is a true story. Honest 22 years ago a man named Herb came to me one morning at a church conference breakfast and said, "The Lord told me in a dream last night to send you and your wife to Israel for a study tour." I sat down at his table. I did not know the man. Like me, he was attending a church conference in Winter Park, Florida. I thought it was a nice gesture, but a bit weird. I thought he was one of those people you meet from time to time in the church. Six months later I [...]

The bible is filled with stories like your story...stories of leaders who have been called to lead. So is the history of the church. From Abraham to Peter, from Moses to Mary, from Augustine to Martin Luther, from Patrick of Ireland to John Wesley. And even you and me! Whether boldly or feebly, leaders lead…and the world is never the same. And neither are they! Paul prayed for us this way: To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the [...]

Herod the Great. Yes…THAT Herod. The Herod of the bible who was ruling over Judea at the birth of Jesus. Yes, with obvious exceptions, I think Herod the Great and The Donald have much in common. I have visited the Holy Land many times and every time I see its ancient ruins, I am impressed with Herod the builder. He built luxurious Roman palaces, ingenious saunas, functioning long-distance aqueducts, mighty fortresses, and beautiful villas…all seemingly at will. And of course, his greatest accomplishment was the construction of the Temple…built to secure the allegiance of the Jews. These sites, most in semi-reconstructed [...]

On Ash Wednesday, clergy around the world will draw a cross-shaped smudge of dark black ashes on the foreheads of millions of people. It is the ancient rite of The Imposition of Ashes which signals the start of Lent. The words that accompany the ‘imposition’ on Ash Wednesday are simple, sober, and true. Over the years I have said them to thousands of people and many of their foreheads stand out in my memory. These are but a few. —An older man shuffles forward to receive the ashes. This would be his last time…and he knows it. The cancer has eaten away [...]

A surprise baptism at the original site of the Lord’s baptism (Mark 1) created an international incident yesterday…and a glimpse of the age to come. Here is what happened. I am leading a tour of 30 adults through the Holy Land. Our bus pulled up to the newly renovated site commemorating the Lord’s baptism by John. It is also the place where Joshua crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land. It is called Qasr el Yahud. I led our group in a very Anglican-style service of the renewal of vows. In other words, people only would get “slightly wet”; bits of the [...]

The Primates of the Anglican Communion have given us a great gift in their Communique from Canterbury. Coming at the end of a long week of tense meetings, the document is a clear and certain trumpet; a strong message to entire Anglican Communion…even the whole Christian world. It reads as though it is the product of an intense battle that was hard fought; but a battle that achieved great gains. Here are my take aways. Marriage: The Primates moved to protect marriage. While the ruptures in the Communion have been caused by vast disagreements about human sexuality, these men drew the line at marriage. [...]

Note: Anglican Pastor covers issues facing pastors, laity, churches, leaders from an Anglican perspective. Occasionally, something happens in a larger Anglican context that deserves mention. The gathering of Primates in Canterbury next week is one such occasion. These are my own thoughts and perspectives as I think about these issues and pray for our leaders. -DHR In only a matter of days the Primates of the Anglican Communion will have a gathering in Canterbury. The agenda has not been set but the purpose has been made apparent from the outset. Welby’s invitation was clear and bold: “Our way forward must [...]

Epiphany in January 6th. It is explained here. And as the kings discovered Jesus as King, so others have and others will. Lord Jesus may your light shine our way, as once it guided the steps of the magi: that we too may be led into your presence and worship you, the Child of Mary, the Word of the Father, the King of nations, the Saviour of mankind; to whom be glory for ever. –Frank Colquhoun “Let us now observe how glorious was the dignity that attended the King after his birth, after the magi in their journey remained obedient to the star. [...]

In just a few days time I will leave for my annual Covenant Group Meeting. There are a few more than a dozen of us, give or take, that have been meeting for nearly three decades. We were all Episcopal priests and rectors of multi-staff congregations. We came from different cities across the US and Canada; no two of us came from the same city or even the same diocese. We are always all guys. We meet for three days in a nice setting during the off-season in Florida. Our days are filled with group meetings where each man takes an [...]

Even if your shopping is complete and the gifts are wrapped, the pastor knows that there is one more thing to do before Christmas morning. Hold Christmas Eve Services. Whether you are preaching, celebrating the Eucharist, leading the prayers, singing the carols, handing out bulletins, or greeting people at the door, it is a big moment in the annual life cycle of a congregation. Has it become too big? It is a privilege to be sure. Leading worship or preaching the message on Christmas Eve is an honor. I always pray that our services and my sermon will honor my [...]

ABOUT LEADERWORKS

For such a time as this…

We all know how much the context and the culture for ministry has changed dramatically. The times have changed. The tools have changed. But the truth remains the same.

And who knows if we were not called to ministry, for such a time as this! Let’s work together to faithfully answer God’s call upon our lives at this important season.

I am 35 year veteran of congregational life and leadership. I have got the joys…and some of the wounds…to prove it. I have stepped aside from my leadership position at Christ Church in Plano in order to focus full time on helping other leaders with their work of faith.

Here is Paul’s prayer that I am making my own: “…that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power…”

If that prayer resonates with you, please subscribe to this site; I’ll keep you informed.